Game device having improved slide-operation-driven user interface

ABSTRACT

Provided are a program, a control method, and an information processing apparatus which may provide an improved user interface on which a user may easily and efficiently execute various processes on a game content. The information processing apparatus may be caused to execute a game content specifying step of specifying a selected game content on the basis of first input operation data from an operation unit, a step of retrieving information from a storage unit, a step of specifying a direction from a start point to an end point of a second input operation on the basis of second input operation data from an operation unit, and an execution step of executing one process associated with the direction from the start point to the end point of the second input operation in the information from the storage unit on the selected game content.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/569,123, filed on Jan. 5, 2022, entitled “GAME DEVICE HAVING IMPROVEDSLIDE-OPERATION-DRIVEN USER INTERFACE,” which in turn claims priorityfrom U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/506,169, now U.S. Pat. No.11,253,780, filed on Jul. 9, 2019, which in turn claims priority fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/714,103, now U.S. Pat. No.10,391,398, filed on Sep. 25, 2017, which in turn claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-194221, files on Sep.30, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a program, a control method, and aninformation processing apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

A user playing a role-playing game or the like may acquire a gamecontent such as a card, an item, equipment, a character, or the likewith the playing of the game. The user can execute various processes(for example, synthesis, reinforcement, trade, and the like) by usingthe game content in the game.

In a case where the user executes one process (for example, synthesis),the following procedure is often followed. First, the user selects oneprocess from a menu screen and displays a dedicated screen for executingthe process. On the dedicated screen, the user selects a game content(for example, a synthesis-source character and a material character) tobe processed. Then, the user pushes an execute button.

In the above procedure, selection and execution of one process areperformed in separate steps. When the selection and execution of oneprocess is performed in one step, the process for the game content ismore efficiently executed.

For example, JP-A-2012-185838 discloses a drag-and-drop widely used in apersonal computer (PC). By the drag-and-drop, a selected object (forexample, a document file or the like) is moved to an icon of oneapplication, so that the process associated with the application can beexecuted.

In recent years, in many cases, games are played on mobile terminalssuch as smartphones. A display unit of the mobile terminal is smaller insize than a display unit of the PC. For this reason, when variousprocesses are executed on a game content in a game played on a mobileterminal, it is not practical to directly apply drag-and-drop. For thisreason, a new user interface capable of efficiently executing variousprocesses on the game content has been demanded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is to provide a program, a control method, and aninformation processing apparatus that realize a user interface capableof easily and efficiently executing various processes on a game content.

According to an exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a programcausing an information processing apparatus including a display unitwhich displays a game content, an operation unit which receives a firstinput operation of a user selecting a game content and a second inputoperation of instructing a process on the game content selected by thefirst input operation and outputs first input operation data where thefirst input operation may be associated with coordinate information andsecond input operation data where the second input operation may beassociated with the coordinate information, and a storage unit which maystore information where a process on the game content and a directionare associated with each other to execute: a game content specifyingstep of specifying the selected game content on the basis of the firstinput operation data; a step of retrieving the information from thestorage unit; a step of specifying a direction from a start point to anend point of the second input operation on the basis of the second inputoperation data; and an execution step of executing one processassociated with the direction from the start point to the end point ofthe second input operation in the information on the selected gamecontent.

According to another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided acontrol method for a game executed by an information processingapparatus including a display unit which displays a game content, anoperation unit which receives a first input operation of a userselecting a game content and a second input operation of instructing aprocess on the game content selected by the first input operation andoutputs first input operation data where the first input operation isassociated with coordinate information and second input operation datawhere the second input operation is associated with the coordinateinformation, and a storage unit which may store information where aprocess on the game content and a direction are associated with eachother, the control method including: specifying the selected gamecontent on the basis of the first input operation data; retrieving theinformation from the storage unit; specifying a direction from a startpoint to an end point of the second input operation on the basis of thesecond input operation data; and executing one process associated withthe direction from the start point to the end point of the second inputoperation in the information on the selected game content.

According to still another exemplary embodiment, there may be providedan information processing apparatus, including: a display unit whichdisplays a game content; an operation unit which receives a first inputoperation of a user selecting a game content and a second inputoperation of instructing a process on the game content selected by thefirst input operation and outputs first input operation data where thefirst input operation may be associated with coordinate information andsecond input operation data where the second input operation may beassociated with the coordinate information; a storage unit which maystore information where a process on the game content and a directionare associated with each other; and a control unit, in which the controlunit specifies the selected game content on the basis of the first inputoperation data, retrieves the information from the storage unit,specifies a direction from a start point to an end point of the secondinput operation on the basis of the second input operation data, andexecutes one process associated with the direction from the start pointto the end point of the second input operation in the information on theselected game content.

According to an exemplary embodiment, it may be possible to provide aprogram, a control method, and an information processing apparatusrealizing a user interface capable of easily and efficiently executingvarious processes on a game content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display area for displaying a gamecontent;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of help information;

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of help information;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information (table)stored in a storage unit;

FIG. 5A a is a diagram illustrating a manner where a user executes oneprocess by a slide operation;

FIG. 5B a is a diagram illustrating a manner where a user executes oneprocess by a slide operation;

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an execution of a process;

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a process canceling method in a casewhere prediction is displayed;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for executing aprocess corresponding to a slide operation by a user on a game contentin a game executed by the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an example of page switching;

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating an example of a slider;

FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating an example of a full-select button;

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating processes for a plurality of gamecontent;

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating processes for one game content;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting acharacter by a slide operation;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selectingparameters to be reinforced by a slide operation; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen in a case wheredrag-and-drop may be applied to a smartphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described.

(Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus)

An information processing apparatus 1 according to an exemplaryembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . The informationprocessing apparatus 1 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, agame machine, or the like, and may execute a game application (program).The game application may be received from, for example, a predeterminedapplication distribution server via the Internet. Alternatively, thegame application may be stored in advance in a storage device providedin the information processing apparatus 1 or a storage medium such as amemory card that may be readable by the information processing apparatus1.

Herein, an overview of a game application executed by the informationprocessing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment (hereinafter,referred to as a game according to the embodiment) will be described.The game according to the embodiment may be, for example, a role-playinggame or the like. A user may operate a user character in a virtual spaceto play the game. The user acquires a game content with the playing ofthe game. In addition, the user can execute various processes on theacquired game content.

The game content may be electronic data used for a game and may includeany medium such as a card, an item, equipment, a character, and anobject. In addition, the user can execute, for example, acquisition,holding, use, management, exchange, synthesis, reinforcement, trade,destruction, donation, or the like as a process on the game content inthe game. Herein, the usage mode of the game content may not be limitedto those disclosed in this specification.

The game according to the embodiment may include the following contentsas a schematic example. The user may operate the user character to playthe game while searching for the field in the game. In the field, forexample, a town, a battle stage, and the like may be provided. Forexample, the user character can have a conversation with a residentcharacter in a town, fight a battle against an enemy characterencountered in a battle stage, and the like. In the field in the game,various events corresponding to the area may occur. As the events areexecuted, the main story of the game may progress. For example, in acase where a user character wins the battle with an enemy character, theuser can acquire the game content.

Configuration components of the information processing apparatus 1 willbe described. The information processing apparatus 1 may be configuredto include an operation unit 10, a storage unit 11, a display unit 12,and a control unit 13.

The operation unit 10 may receive a user's input operation and outputsinput operation data where the input operation may be associated withcoordinate information. As described above, in the game executed by theinformation processing apparatus 1, various processes can be executed onthe game content. The user's input operation received by the operationunit 10 may include, for example, an operation of the user selecting agame content to be processed. In addition, the user's input operationreceived by the operation unit 10 may include, for example, an operationof instructing execution of a desired process on the game contentselected by the user.

In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment,the operation unit 10 may be a touch panel integrated with the displayunit 12. For example, the information processing apparatus 1 has aconfiguration in which a transparent sensor layer detecting a change inelectrostatic capacitance which may be the operation unit 10 may beoverlapped on a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer which may be thedisplay unit 12 (a configuration in which the LCD layer may be viewedthrough the sensor layer by a user). The operation unit 10 can detectthe position touched by the user by detecting the change inelectrostatic capacitance. A touch panel of a type other than theelectrostatic capacitance type may be employed as the operation unit 10.

The user performs an input operation by touching the operation unit 10by using a finger or an instrument such as a stylus. In the embodiment,the user can select a game content and deselect (release) the selectedgame content by tapping. The tap may be an operation in which the usertouches the operation unit 10 with his or her finger and then releasesthe finger without moving the finger. In the embodiment, the user canselect and release consecutive game content and can execute a desiredprocess on the game content by tapping and/or slide operation. The slideoperation may be an operation of moving a finger with which the usertouches the operation unit 10 on the operation unit 10. The slideoperation may include, for example, flick, swipe, and the like. Theflick may be an operation in which the user touches the operation unit10 with the finger or the like and releases the finger while quicklymoving the finger in the state where the finger may be in touch with theoperation unit. The swipe may be an operation in which the user touchesthe operation unit 10 with the finger or the like and moves the fingerin the state where the finger may be in touch with the operation unit.Herein, the point at which the user touches the operation unit 10 withthe finger or the like and starts an input operation may be referred toas a start point. In addition, the point at which the user releases thefinger or the like that has been touching the operation unit 10 at thetime of ending the input operation may be referred to as an end point.In addition, a point on the route between where the user touches theoperation unit 10 at the start of the input operation to where the userceases touching the operation unit 10 at the end of the input operationmay be referred to as an intermediate point. Herein, it may bepreferable that the point at which the finger or the like may betemporarily separated during the input operation may not be treated asan end point, and in a case where the finger or the like may be in touchwith the operation unit 10 again within a predetermined time (forexample, 0.5 seconds), the point may not be treated as an end point.

The operation unit 10 associates the tap position, the start and endpoints of the slide operation, the route of the slide operation, and thelike with the coordinate information on the touch panel. The startpoint, the end point, the route, and the like associated with thecoordinate information may be output as the input operation data. In theinformation processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment,coordinates in a rectangular coordinate system in which the horizontaland vertical directions of the screen of the display unit 12 integratedwith the operation unit 10 may be the X and Y axes, respectively, may beused. In addition, the input operation data also may include informationon the elapsed time from the start of the input operation.

The storage unit 11 may be, for example, a storage device and may storevarious types of information and programs (game applications) necessaryfor processing the game. The storage unit 11 may include, for example, asemiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like.The storage unit 11 may store an image of a game content displayed in avirtual space (virtual game space). In addition, the storage unit 11 maystore various parameters (for example, attribute, level, attack power,defense power, rareness value, and the like) of the game content. Inaddition, the storage unit 11 may store a table 111 (refer to FIG. 4 )described later. In addition, the storage unit 11 may store variousimages (texture images) for projection onto various objects arranged ina virtual space (texture mapping). In addition, the storage unit 11 maystore images of backgrounds (background images) such as sky and distantlandscape and images of fields (field images) such as towns and battlestages. The storage unit 11 may be a memory (for example, a RAM or thelike) for storing the data received from the server as a cache.

The display unit 12 displays the virtual space in which the usercharacter may be arranged. In the embodiment, the display unit 12 may bea liquid crystal display (LCD) layer of a touch panel, but the displayunit may not be limited thereto. For example, the display unit 12 may bea display device such as an organic EL display.

The control unit 13 may be a dedicated microprocessor or a CPU whichrealizes a specific function by reading a specific program. The controlunit 13 controls the operation of the information processing apparatus1. For example, the control unit 13 may execute a game application inaccordance with a user's operation on the operation unit 10. Inaddition, the control unit 13 may execute various processes related tothe game.

The control unit 13 allows the display unit 12 to display a virtualspace including, for example, a field and a user character. In addition,the control unit 13 allows the display unit 12 to display a game contentsuch as a card or equipment. In addition, the control unit 13 identifiesthe game content selected by the user's input operation. The controlunit 13 may execute a process according to the user's input operation onthe selected game content. Hereinafter, an example of a screen displayedon the display unit 12 of the information processing apparatus 1according to the embodiment and a process on the game content will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8 .

(Selection of Game Content)

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the information processing apparatus 1 may beconfigured to include an operation unit 10 and a display unit 12 whichmay be integrated to constitute a touch panel. The display unit 12 maybe provided with a display area 121 for displaying game content 2 a to 2i. Each of the game content 2 a to 2 i may be an individual gamecontent. In the display area 121, a list of the game content 2 a to 2 imay be displayed. To display a list may be to arrange and display thegame content in an easy-to-understand manner for the user so that theuser can easily select the game content. In the example of FIG. 2 , alist in which the game content 2 a to 2 i may be arranged in three rowsand three columns in the vertical and horizontal directions may bedisplayed. In the embodiment, regardless of the process to be executed,the display area 121 may be used for selecting the game content 2 a to 2i. Since the selection screen may be unified regardless of the process,the result may be more convenient for the user.

The user can select the game content by tapping the game content 2 a to2 i displayed on the display area 121. By tapping the already-selectedgame content 2 a to 2 i, it may be possible to deselect (cancel theselection). In addition, even in a case where the user touches the gamecontent 2 a to 2 i by the slide operation, the touched game content 2 ato 2 i can be selected. In the example of FIG. 2 , the user has selectedthe game content 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i. Since the display color of theselected game content 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i changes, the user canconfirm the selection result. As another example, the selected gamecontent 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i may be blinking, the shape may bechanged, the display mode may be changed, or an image indicating theselection may be added.

Herein, the operation unit 10 may receive the user's input operation andoutputs the input operation data where the input operation may beassociated with the coordinate information. As illustrated in FIG. 2 ,the operation unit 10 uses coordinates in a rectangular coordinatesystem in which the horizontal direction of the screen may be set to theX axis and the vertical direction may be set to the Y axis. Thecoordinate information may be used as follows. For example, theoperation unit 10 may receive the user's input operation of tapping thegame content 2 i and outputs the input operation data in associationwith the coordinates of the tap position. After that, the inputoperation data may be retrieved by the control unit 13, and thecoordinates of the tap position may be grasped. Then, control forchanging the display color of the game content 2 i displayed at thecoordinates of the tap position may be executed by the control unit 13.

The information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment canexecute various processes on the selected game content 2 d, 2 e, 2 g,and 2 i. As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 maybe, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a game machine, or the like.For this reason, it may not be practical to directly apply drag-and-dropto the information processing apparatus 1.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a screen in a case where drag-and-dropmay be directly applied to an information processing apparatus 1A whichmay be a smartphone. In the display unit 12 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1A, process regions corresponding to applicationicons may be provided. In the example of FIG. 12 , as the processregions, there may be provided a region 140A for evolution synthesis, aregion 140B for reinforcement synthesis, a region 140C for specialsynthesis, a region 140D for team formation, a region 140E for trade,and a region 140F for warehouse. In the example of FIG. 12 , the usercan collectively process the selected game content by dragging theselected game content 2 d and 2 e to one of the process regions.

However, the process regions may be provided in the display unit 12 ofwhich size may be smaller than that of the PC, so that the display area121 for displaying the game content 2 a to 2 f becomes small. The numberof game content that can be selected at one time may be decreased, andas a result, the number of times of execution of the process may beincreased, which may be inconvenient for the user.

The information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment canexecute various processes on the selected game content 2 d, 2 e, 2 g,and 2 i without providing the process regions on the display unit 12.Specifically, the information processing apparatus 1 may execute variousprocesses by allowing the processes to correspond to the directions ofthe user's slide operation. In other words, the user can execute adesired process only by slide operation in a predetermined direction.

(Display of Help Information)

Herein, there may be a possibility that the user may be confused as towhich direction of the slide operation a desired process corresponds to.When the user long-pushes (long-taps) the game content after selectingthe game content 2 a to 2 i, the information processing apparatus 1according to the embodiment displays help information 122 on the displayunit 12.

FIG. 3A may be a diagram illustrating an example of the help information122. In the embodiment, the help information 122 may be information suchas an image explaining the correspondence between the processes on thegame content and the directions. Herein, the help information 122 mayinclude text-based explanation, such as a sentence. In addition, thehelp information 122 may be only the text-based explanation. Namely, thehelp information 122 may be at least one of an image and a sentenceexplaining the correspondence between the processes on the game contentand the directions.

In the example of FIG. 3A, the game content 2 a to 2 i displayed on thedisplay area 121 may be equipment (for example, weapon, helmet, armor,shield, and the like) to be worn by the character. For the equipment,the processes of synthesis, warehouse, special synthesis, and trade maybe possible. The synthesis may be a process of combining materialequipment with synthesis-source equipment to configure thesynthesis-source equipment as another equipment. The warehouse may be aprocess of moving equipment not to be used to a virtual warehouse in thegame space to store the equipment. The special synthesis may besynthesis that may be performed by consuming not only in-game currencybut also special items. The special synthesis can further reinforce theparameters of the synthesis-source equipment as compared to simplesynthesis. The trade may be a process of exchanging equipment within-game currency. In the example of FIG. 3A, the help information 122indicates that the upward slide operation may be synthesis. In addition,the help information 122 indicates that the downward slide operation maybe warehouse. In addition, the help information 122 indicates that therightward slide operation may be special synthesis. In addition, thehelp information 122 indicates that the leftward slide operation may betrade.

FIG. 3B may be a diagram illustrating another example of the helpinformation 122. In the example of FIG. 3B, the game content 2 a to 2 idisplayed on the display area 121 may be characters. For the characters,processes of reinforcement synthesis, evolution synthesis and trade maybe possible. Reinforcement synthesis may be a process of reinforcingparameters of a synthesis-source character by combining a materialcharacter with the synthesis-source character. Evolution synthesis maybe a process of converting a synthesis-source character into anothercharacter by combining a material character with the synthesis-sourcecharacter. Trade may be a process of exchanging characters with in-gamecurrency. In the example of FIG. 3B, the help information 122 indicatesthat the upward slide operation may be reinforcement synthesis. Inaddition, the help information 122 indicates that the rightward slideoperation may be evolution synthesis. In addition, the help information122 indicates that the leftward slide operation may be trade. In theexample of FIG. 3B, there may be no process corresponding to thedownward slide operation.

In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the process variesdepending on the type (equipment, character) of the game content 2 a to2 i displayed on the display area 121. Namely, the informationprocessing apparatus 1 associates an appropriate process according tothe type of the game content with the direction of the slide operation.Such association may be executed on the basis of the information storedin the storage unit 11 as the table 111.

FIG. 4 may be a diagram illustrating an example of the table 111 storedin the storage unit 11. As described above, the table 111 associates theprocess on the game content with the direction of the slide operation.In the embodiment, the table 111 associates various processes on thegame content with the directions of the slide operations for each typeof game content. The directions of the slide operations are, forexample, upward, downward, leftward, rightward, upper rightward, and thelike. However, not all directions need to be associated with processes.In the example of FIG. 4 , even though the type of the game content maybe a character, equipment, or an item, the process may not be associatedwith the upper rightward direction.

The correspondence between the processes in a case where the type of thegame content may be a character and equipment in FIG. 4 and thedirections of the slide operations may be the same as the helpinformation 122 described in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively. In addition,in the example of FIG. 4 , in a case where the type of the game contentmay be an item, the upward slide operation may be associated withreinforcement executed by consuming points. In addition, the downwardslide operation may be associated with the warehouse. In addition, theleftward slide operation may be associated with the trade.

Herein, as another example, in the table 111, the correspondence betweenthe processes and the directions of the slide operations may be sharedwithout dividing for each type of game content. However, in a case wherethere may be many processes on the game content (for example, more thaneight types), it may be preferable that the processes corresponding tothe types of game content 2 a to 2 i displayed on the display area 121as in the embodiment may be associated with the directions of the slideoperations. In addition, as still another example, the processes may bedifferent depending on the types of the selected game content 2 d, 2 e,2 g, and 2 i instead of the types of the game content 2 a to 2 idisplayed on the display area 121.

In addition, as in the example of FIG. 4 , it may be preferable that thesame process may be associated with the same direction regardless of thetype of the game content 2 a to 2 i. For example, even though the gamecontent 2 a to 2 i may be characters, equipment, or items, it may bepossible to trade the characters, equipment, or items. Then, the trademay be associated with the leftward direction. In addition, even thoughthe game content 2 a to 2 i may be equipment or items, it may bepossible to store the equipment or items in a warehouse (or to take theequipment or items out from the warehouse). Then, the warehouse may beassociated with the downward direction. As in this example, it may bepreferable that processes common to two or more types of game content 2a to 2 i may be associated with the same direction of the slideoperation. At this time, since the user may store the specific processand the specific direction in association with each other, it may bepossible to reduce the trouble of confirming the help information 122.

(Execution of Process)

As described above, the user has selected the game content 2 d, 2 e, 2g, and 2 i from the game content 2 a to 2 i displayed on the displayarea 121 by tapping (refer to FIG. 2 ). Then, the user long-pushes theoperation unit 10 integrated with the display unit 12 to display thehelp information 122 and confirms the correspondence between theprocesses and the directions (refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B). Then, byperforming a slide operation (flicking as a specific example) in adirection corresponding to a desired process, it may be possible tocollectively execute the desired process on the selected game content 2d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the states where the user may execute oneprocess by a slide operation. In the examples of FIGS. 5A and 5B, thegame content 2 a to 2 i displayed on the display area 121 may beequipment. In the example of FIG. 5A, the user may execute synthesis onthe selected game content 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i. The synthesis may beassociated with an upward slide operation. When the user performs anupward slide operation with the finger or the like, a prediction 123 maybe popped up in the middle of the process (before execution ofsynthesis). The prediction 123 may be a result expected in a case whereone process corresponding to the direction of the slide operation to amiddle point determined by the table 111 may be executed on the selectedgame content. The prediction 123 may not be limited to deterministiccontents. For example, in a case where one process may be executedaccording to a predetermined probability, the prediction 123 may includeone or plural results with probabilities (for example, X with aprobability of 70%, Y with a probability of 20%, Z with a probability of10%, or the like). In the example of FIG. 5A, the prediction 123indicates the prediction result of the synthesis. The prediction 123informs the user that the synthesis result may be “ABC (rare)” with aprobability of 80%. Furthermore, when the user performs an upward slideoperation with the finger or the like, synthesis may be executed on theselected game content 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i. Herein, in the synthesis,the first selected game content 2 d may be treated as a synthesissource, or the last selected game content 2 i may be treated as asynthesis source.

In the example of FIG. 5B, the user collectively sells the selected gamecontent 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i. The trade may be associated with theleftward slide operation. When the user performs a leftward slideoperation with the finger or the like, the prediction 123 may be poppedup in the middle of the process (before the trade may be executed). Inthe example of FIG. 5B, the prediction 123 indicates the predictionresult of the trade (predicted trade amount). The prediction 123 informsthe user that the predicted trade amount (total) of the selected gamecontent 2 d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i may be “2350 G”. Herein, G may be a unitof in-game currency. Furthermore, when the user performs a leftwardslide operation with the finger or the like, the selected game content 2d, 2 e, 2 g, and 2 i may be collectively traded.

FIG. 6A may be a diagram exemplifying an execution of a process. In theembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the process may be executed orcanceled in accordance with the length of the slide operation. In thecase of executing one process on the selected game content 2 d, 2 e, 2g, and 2 i, the user may perform a slide operation in the directioncorresponding to one process by using the finger or the like. In theembodiment, a threshold value Th may be provided for the distance fromthe start point 131 to the end point 132 of the slide operation. Forexample, the threshold value Th may be set to a distance correspondingto 200 to 400 pixels on the display unit 12. The threshold value Th maybe used for determining execution of the process. For example, in a casewhere a distance L1 from the start point 131 to the end point 132exceeds the threshold value Th as indicated by an arrow on the left sideof FIG. 6A (representing a slide operation), the information processingapparatus 1 may execute the process. In addition, for example, in a casewhere a distance L2 from the start point 131 to the end point 132 may beequal to or smaller than the threshold value Th as indicated by an arrowon the right side of FIG. 6A (representing a slide operation), theinformation processing apparatus 1 treats the process as canceled.

Herein, in a case where the prediction 123 may be displayed, in somecases, the user considers that the user may want to stop the processaccording to the contents. In the example of FIG. 5A, the user graspsthat the probability that the result of synthesis being “ABC (rare)” maybe high according to the prediction 123. In a case where the userconsiders “ABC (rare)” to be unnecessary, there may be a possibilitythat the user may want to cancel the synthesis. In addition, in theexample of FIG. 5B, the user grasps that the predicted trade amount maybe “2350 G” according to the prediction 123. In a case where the userconsiders “2350 G” to be little money, there may be a possibility thatthe user may want to cancel the trade. In the embodiment, the processmay be canceled in a case where the prediction 123 may be displayed bythe following determination.

FIG. 6B may be a diagram exemplifying a process canceling method in acase where the prediction 123 may be displayed. In the example of FIG.6B, the user first may perform a slide operation upward from the startpoint 131 as indicated by a solid arrow. Then, while touching theoperation unit 10 with the finger or the like, the user changes thedirection to the lower rightward direction on the way and may performthe slide operation to the end point 132. In the upward slide operationfrom the initial start point 131, when the finger may be separated fromthe start point 131 by a specific distance smaller than the thresholdvalue Th, the prediction 123 may be displayed. In the embodiment, thespecific distance may be 80% (0.8 Th in FIG. 6B) of the threshold valueTh. In addition, when the prediction 123 may be displayed, theintermediate point on the route (solid arrow in FIG. 6B) may be set asthe specific intermediate point 133. Namely, the specific intermediatepoint may be an intermediate point that may be separated from the startpoint by a specific distance (a distance for displaying the prediction123 of the process associated with one direction) in one direction.Herein, a multiplier (80%) for the threshold value Th giving thespecific distance may be an example, and as another example, 50% may beused.

As in the example of FIG. 6B, in a case where the direction from thestart point 131 to the end point 132 of the slide operation (thedirection of the vector Ve in FIG. 6B) is not the same as the directionfrom the start point 131 to the specific intermediate point 133 (thedirection of the vector Vm in FIG. 6B), the information processingapparatus 1 may cancel the process. Namely, when the final directionfrom the start point 131 to the end point 132 may be different from thedirection from the start point 131 displaying the prediction 123 to thespecific intermediate point 133, the information processing apparatus 1may determine that the user has intentionally changed the direction ofthe slide operation.

Then, the information processing apparatus 1 may cancel the process. Inthe embodiment, in a case where the directions may be not the same aseach other as described above, regardless of the distance (the length ofthe vector Ve in FIG. 6B) from the start point 131 to the end point 132of the slide operation, the information processing apparatus 1 maycancel the process.

Herein, the situation where the direction from the start point 131 tothe end point 132 of the slide operation may be the same as thedirection from the start point 131 to the specific intermediate point133 may not be limited to exact coincidence. Namely, when the directionfrom the start point 131 to the end point 132 and the direction from thestart point 131 to the specific intermediate point 133 may besubstantially the same as each other, it may be determined that theinformation processing apparatus 1 may be the same. Whether or not thedirections may be substantially the same as each other may be determinedas follows. In the embodiment, when the angle formed by a vector Ve anda vector Vm in FIG. 6B exceeds a predetermined value (predeterminedangle), it may be determined that the directions may be different, andwhen the angle is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value(predetermined angle), it may be determined that the directions are thesame as each other. Herein, the predetermined value (predeterminedangle) may be set to, for example, 200 in consideration of the shake ofthe user's input operation or the like. At this time, in a case where aslide operation that returns the user's finger or the like to anoriginal position on the way (for example, around the start point 131)may be detected, the control unit 13 may cancel the process.

(Flowchart)

FIG. 7 may be a flowchart illustrating a game control method executed bythe control unit 13. As illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 7 , thecontrol unit 13 may execute processes corresponding to the user's slideoperations with respect to the selected game content.

First, the user's input operations received by the operation unit 10 maybe classified into three input operations. The first input operation maybe an input operation for the user to select a game content. The secondinput operation may be an input operation instructing a process on thegame content selected by the first input operation. Then, the thirdinput operation may be a user's input operation (for example, long-push)different from both the first input operation and the second inputoperation. The operation unit 10 may receive the first input operation,the second input operation, and the third input operation, and mayassociate the first input operation, the second input operation, and thethird input operation with the coordinate information, and outputs asfirst input operation data, second input operation data, and third inputoperation data. The first to third input operation data may also includeinformation on the elapsed time from the start of the input operation.

The control unit 13 may retrieve the first input operation data from theoperation unit 10 (step S1). Then, the control unit 13 specifies theselected game content on the basis of the first input operation data(step S2). Step S2 may be a game content specification step. The controlunit 13 may retrieve coordinate information such as a tap position, aroute of a slide operation, or the like from the first input operationdata. The control unit 13 specifies the selected game content bycomparing the retrieved coordinate information with the coordinates ofthe game content displayed on the display unit 12.

The control unit 13 may retrieve the third input operation data from theoperation unit 10 (step S3). Then, the control unit 13 may determinewhether or not the third input operation is long-push (step S4). Thecontrol unit 13 may retrieve, from the third input operation data, forexample, coordinate information on the start point and the end point ofthe input operation, information on the time from the start to the end,and the like. Then, the control unit 13 may determine whether or not thetime from the start to the end of the input operation exceeds apredetermined time (a first long-push threshold value). In addition, thecontrol unit 13 may determine whether or not the distance between thecoordinates of the start point of the input operation and thecoordinates of the end point of the input operation is equal to orsmaller than a predetermined distance (a second long-push thresholdvalue). In a case where the time from the start to the end of the inputoperation exceeds the first long-push threshold value and the distancebetween the coordinates of the start point and the coordinates of theend point is equal to or smaller than the second long-push thresholdvalue, it may be determined that the input operation is long-push. Thefirst long-push threshold value may be set in a range of, for example, 1to 3 seconds. In addition, the second long-push threshold value may beset to a distance corresponding to, for example, 1 to 10 pixels on thedisplay unit 12. In a case where it is determined that the third inputoperation is long-push (Yes in step S4), the control unit 13 may allowthe display unit 12 to display the help information 122 (step S5). StepS5 may be a help display step. In the embodiment, the help information122 displayed on the display unit 12 may not be displayed when apredetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) elapses after the user stopsthe long-push. After executing the process of step S5 and in a casewhere it may be determined that the third input operation is notlong-push (No in step S4), the control unit 13 proceeds to the processof step S6.

The control unit 13 may retrieve the table 111 from the storage unit 11(step S6). As described above, the table 111 may be information in whichthe process on the game content may be associated with the direction ofthe slide operation.

The control unit 13 may retrieve the second input operation data fromthe operation unit 10 (step S7). Then, the control unit 13 may retrievecoordinate information such as the start point of the slide operationand the route of the slide operation from the second input operationdata. The control unit 13 may determine whether the end point of theslide operation is specified (step S8). In a case where the second inputoperation data may include the coordinate information of the end pointof the slide operation, the control unit 13 may determine that the endpoint of the slide operation is specified (the end point exists) (Yes instep S8), and the process proceeds to step S11.

In a case where it is determined that the end point of the slideoperation is not specified (the end point does not exist) (No in stepS8), the control unit 13 may execute the following processes relating tothe display of the prediction 123. The control unit 13 may determinewhether or not a specific intermediate point is included in the routeduring the slide operation (step S9). The specific intermediate pointmay be an intermediate point that may be separated from the start pointof the slide operation by a specific distance (distance corresponding to80% of the threshold value Th in the example of FIG. 6B) toward onedirection. In a case where it is determined that a specific intermediatepoint is included in the route of the slide operation (Yes in step S9),the control unit 13 may allow the display unit 12 to display theprediction 123 of the time when one process associated with thedirection from the start point to the specific intermediate point in thetable 111 may be executed on the selected game content (step S10). StepS10 may be a prediction display step. In the embodiment, the prediction123 displayed on the display unit 12 may not be displayed when apredetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses from the start ofdisplay. After executing the process of step S10 and in a case where itis determined that a specific intermediate point is not included (No instep S9), the control unit 13 returns to the process of step S7. Then,the control unit 13 may retrieve the updated second input operationdata.

In a case where the second input operation data includes the coordinateinformation of the end point, the control unit 13 may retrieve thedistance from the start point to the end point. Then, the control unit13 may determine whether the distance from the start point to the endpoint of the second input operation exceeds a threshold value Th (referto FIG. 6B) (step S11). In a case where it is determined that thedistance from the start point to the end point is equal to or smallerthan the threshold value Th (No in step S11), the control unit 13 maycancel the process on the selected game content and ends the series ofprocessing. In a case where it is determined that the distance from thestart point to the end point exceeds the threshold value Th (Yes in stepS11), the control unit 13 may specify the direction from the start pointto the end point of the second input operation (slide operation) (stepS12).

The control unit 13 may determine whether or not the prediction 123 hasbeen displayed (step S13). In a case where the prediction 123 is notdisplayed on the display unit 12 (No in step S13), the control unit 13may proceed to the process of step S15. In a case where the control unit13 has allowed the display unit 12 to display the prediction 123 (Yes instep S13), the control unit 13 may proceed to the process of step S14for determining the cancellation of the process.

The control unit 13 may determine whether or not the direction from thestart point to the end point of the second input operation (slideoperation) is the same as the direction from the start point to thespecific intermediate point at the time of prediction 123 display, thatis, in the prediction display step (Step S14). If the angle between avector Ve connecting the start point and the end point and a vector Vmconnecting the start point and the specific intermediate point is equalto or smaller than a predetermined value in the process of step S14, thecontrol unit 13 may determine that the directions are the same as eachother. In a case where the direction from the start point to the endpoint of the second input operation is not the same as the directionfrom the start point to the specific intermediate point (No in stepS14), the control unit 13 may cancel the process on the selected gamecontent and may end a series of processes. In a case where the directionfrom the start point to the end point of the second input operation isthe same as the direction from the start point to the specificintermediate point (Yes in step S14), the control unit 13 may proceed tothe process of step S15.

The control unit 13 may execute one process associated with thedirection from the start point to the end point of the second inputoperation in the table 111 on the selected game content (step S15) andends a series of processes. Step S15 may be an execution step.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 according tothe embodiment may associate the processes on the game content with thedirections and may execute one process according to the direction of theuser's slide operation on the selected game content. The informationprocessing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment realizes a userinterface capable of easily and efficiently executing various processeson the game content.

In addition, in the information processing apparatus 1 according to theembodiment, there may be no need to provide process regions (refer toFIG. 12 ) corresponding to drag-and-drop application icons on thedisplay unit 12. For this reason, the information processing apparatus 1may be appropriate for such a smartphone which has the display unit 12having a size smaller than that of a PC.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the drawingsand the embodiments, it should be noted that the skilled in the art caneasily make various modifications and changes on the basis of thedisclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that the modifications andchanges may be included within the scope of the invention. For example,functions and the like included in each means, each step, or the likecan be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and aplurality of means, steps, or the like can be combined into one ordivided.

Modified Examples and the Like

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 13 may receive theinput operation data from the operation unit 10. However, the storageunit 11 may temporarily store the input operation data. Then, thecontrol unit 13 may receive the input operation data from the storageunit 11. At this time, since the storage unit 11 functions as a buffer,the control unit 13 can more flexibly select the timing of retrievingthe input operation data.

In the above-described example of the embodiment, the number of gamecontent 2 a to 2 i that can be displayed may be displayed in a list onthe display area 121. Herein, in a case where the user owns a gamecontent which cannot be displayed on the display area 121, the user mayswitch pages by using the display area 121 as a unit. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 8A, the game content 1 a to 1 i may be included inthe first page, the game content 2 a to 2 i may be included in thesecond page, and the game content 3 a to 3 i may be included in thethird page.

Herein, in the page switching by using the display area 121 as a unit,in response to an input slide operation in the leftward or rightwarddirection, the control unit 13 may switch a page to an adjacent page anddisplay the page. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, in a casewhere the game content 2 a to 2 i are displayed on the display area 121,in response to an input operation in which the user slides the fingerleftward on the display area 121, the game content 3 a to 3 i may bedisplayed on the display area 121. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 8A,in a case where the game content 2 a to 2 i are displayed on the displayarea 121, in response to an input operation in which the user slides thefinger rightward on the display area 121, the game content 1 a to 1 imay be displayed on the display area 121.

In addition, in a case where page switching may be executed in responseto the input slide operation in this manner, for example, in response tothe input slide operation in the upward or downward direction, thecontrol unit 13 may switch to a predetermined non-adjacent page anddisplay the page. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, in a casewhere the game content 2 a to 2 i are displayed on the display area 121,in response to an input operation in which the user slides the fingerupward on the display area 121, the game content 12 a to 12 icorresponding to the ten previous pages may be displayed on the displayarea 121. Similarly, in a case where the game content 12 a to 12 i maybe displayed on the display area 121, in response to an input operationin which the user slides the finger downward on the display area 121,the game content 2 a to 2 i corresponding to the ten previous pages maybe displayed on the display area 121.

Furthermore, in a case where page switching is executed in response tothe input slide operation, for example, in response to the input slideoperation in an oblique direction, the control unit 13 may switch to apredetermined non-adjacent page and display the page. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 8A, in a case where the game content 2 a to 2 i aredisplayed on the display area 121, in response to an input operation inwhich the user slides the finger from the lower left to the upper rightthe display area 121, the game content 102 a to 102 i corresponding tothe 100 previous pages may be displayed on the display area 121.

Herein, the page displayed on the display area 121 may be switched bythe tab 124. In the example of FIG. 8A, the user has selected the tab124 in which the number “2” is written. Then, the game content 2 a to 2i included in the second page may be displayed on the display area 121.The user can easily switch pages by the tab 124. Herein, for example, ina case where the user selects the tab 124 in which the number “1” iswritten, the game content 1 a to 1 i may be displayed on the displayarea 121. In addition, instead of the tab 124, the page may be switchedby the slider 125 illustrated in FIG. 8B. The slider 125 can move theknob in increments of scales corresponding to each page.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, a full-select button 126 capableof selecting the game content 2 a to 2 i displayed on the display area121 at one time may be provided. For example, in a case where it isdetermined that the user pushed the full-select button 126 on the basisof the first input operation data, the control unit 13 may determinethat all the game content 2 a to 2 i displayed on the display area 121of the display unit 12 have been selected. At this time, the gamecontent 1 a to 1 i of the first page and the game content 3 a to 3 i ofthe third page which are not selected by the tab 124 may not bedisplayed on the display unit 12. For this reason, the control unit 13treats the game content 1 a to 1 i and the game content 3 a to 3 i asnot being selected. Then, the control unit 13 may control the displayunit 12 so as to change the display colors of the selected game content2 a to 2 i. After that, in a case where it is determined that the userhas pushed the full-select button 126 again, the control unit 13 maycancel the selection of the game content 2 a to 2 i. Namely, thefull-select button 126 may function as a toggle button for selecting allof the game content displayed on the display unit 12 or canceling theselection.

Herein, the game content may be sorted under one or more conditions,preferably a plurality of conditions which may be designated by theuser. The object of sorting may be limited to the game content (forexample, the game content 2 a to 2 i) displayed on the display area 121,or the object of sorting may be all the game content including the gamecontent not displayed on the display area 121 (for example, the gamecontent 1 a to 1 i, 2 a to 2 i, and 3 a to 3 i). The plurality ofconditions denotes, for example, that a degree of rareness can bedesignated as the first condition and attribute can be designated as thesecond condition. Then, the game content may be sorted in descendingorder of the degree of rareness with respect to each attribute. By suchsorting under the plurality of conditions, the user can easily allocatethe appropriate game content to each page.

In the above-described embodiment, the table 111 may associate variousprocesses on the game content with the directions of the slide operationfor each type of game content displayed on the display area 121 (referto FIG. 4 ). Herein, the table 111 may have divisions as to whether thenumber of game content to be selected or more may be one or plural.Furthermore, even though the types of the game content may be the same,the processes may be different depending on whether the number of gamecontent may be one or plural.

In the examples of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the game content 2 a to 2 i ascharacters may be displayed on the display area 121. In the example ofFIG. 9A, a plurality (two) of game content 2 a and 2 b may be selected.At this time, the help information 122 indicates that the processes ofreinforcement synthesis, evolution synthesis and trade may be possiblefor the selected character. On the other hand, in the example of FIG.9B, a single (one) game content 2 a may be selected. At this time, itmay be indicated in the help information 122 that processes of leadersetting, equipment change, and trade may be possible for the selectedcharacter. In the example of FIG. 9B, instead of the reinforcementsynthesis and the evolution synthesis requiring a plurality of gamecontent, it may be possible to execute leader setting and equipmentchange processes for one game content. In this manner, depending onwhether the number of selected game content may be one or plural, theprocess on the game content may be configured to be different, so thatonly an executable process may be associated with the direction of theslide operation. Therefore, it possible to realize a user interface thatmay be easier for the user to use.

In the above-described embodiment, one process may be executed amongvarious processes on the game content according to the direction of theslide operation. Herein, in the situation where it may be decided toexecute one process on the game content already, the selection item inone process may be determined according to at least one of the directionand length of the slide operation. For example, after the user selectsone process corresponding to the direction of the slide operation, thescreen may be transitioned to a dedicated screen for executing oneprocess, and similarly, the user may determine the selection item (forexample, parameters, characters, and the like) by a slide operation onthe dedicated screen.

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen for allowing a user to select a characterby a slide operation in a situation where a process of equipping thecharacter with an already selected game content is decided. In thecenter of the screen, the equipment i to be equipped on the charactermay be displayed. Then, four characters A to D may be allocated to theupward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions of the equipment i.In the example of FIG. 10 , the user may perform a rightward slideoperation on the screen and instructs to equip the character B with theequipment i. Herein, the prediction 123 may also be displayed on thisscreen. As the prediction 123, images, parameters, and the like in acase where the character may be equipped with the equipment icorresponding to the direction of the user's slide operation may bedisplayed. By confirming the prediction 123, the user can try on theequipment with each character before executing the equipping process. Inaddition, in the example of FIG. 10 , although the equipment i may beone weapon, it may be possible to equip the character with a pluralityof equipment (for example, a sword and a shield).

In addition, FIG. 11 illustrates a screen used by the user to select theparameters for reinforcement by the slide operation in the situationwhere the process of reinforcing the user character by the reinforcingpoint (the point which the character can be reinforced by consuming) maybe decided. Six parameters (attack power, HP, skill, defense power, MP,and speed) may be assigned to the six directions from the center of thescreen. In the example of FIG. 11 , the user may perform an upward slideoperation V1 on the screen, so that the user can reinforce the attackpower assigned upward. In addition, in the example of FIG. 11 , the useralso may perform a slide operation V2 on the screen to the lowerleftward direction (intermediate direction between the MP and thedefense power), so that the user can simultaneously reinforce the MP andthe defense power. The degree of reinforcement increases according tothe length of the slide operation, and thus, the consumption of thereinforcing points also increases. In the example of FIG. 11 , since theslide operation V1 may be longer than the slide operation V2, the attackpower may be greatly reinforced compared with the MP and the defensiveforce. Herein, in a case where the user long-pushes the center of thescreen, all the parameters may be uniformly reinforced with a strengthcorresponding to the time of long-push.

In the above-described embodiment, one threshold value may be provided,and execution or cancellation of the process may be performed accordingto whether or not the distance from the start point to the end point ofthe slide operation exceeds the threshold value (refer to FIG. 6B).Herein, there may be a plurality of threshold values. Differentthreshold values may be used for determination of when to executedifferent processes.

For example, it may be assumed that two processes “synthesis” and“trade” may be associated with one direction. Then, it may be assumedthat a first threshold value and a second threshold value larger thanthe first threshold value may be provided. In a case where the distancefrom the start point to the end point of the user's slide operation isequal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the control unit 13may determine that both of the two processes may be canceled. Inaddition, in a case where the distance exceeds the first threshold valueand is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, the controlunit 13 may execute “synthesis” on the selected game content. Inaddition, in a case where the distance exceeds the second thresholdvalue, the control unit 13 may execute “trade” instead of “synthesis” onthe selected game content. In this manner, a plurality of the thresholdvalues corresponding to a plurality of the processes may be provided, sothat it may be possible to associate a plurality of the processes in onedirection. Since more processes can be associated without increasing thenumber of slide directions, it may be possible to realize a userinterface that enables more efficient operation. At this time, aplurality of processes may be associated with the longitudinaldirections (for example, the upward and downward directions) of thedisplay unit 12. In other words, one process may be associated with theshort-side direction (for example, the leftward and rightwarddirections) of the display unit 12. By adjusting the number of processesassociated with one direction in accordance with the shape of thedisplay unit 12, even in the information processing apparatus 1including the display unit 12 with a relatively small size, it may bepossible to realize a user interface that may be easier to operate.

In the above-described embodiment, the user's slide operation may beexecuted on the touch panel. However, the slide operation may not belimited to the touch operation but may be executed in the space (in theair). For example, the operation unit 10 may include a sensor fordetecting movement of a user's finger or the like. Then, the operationunit 10 may use the route drawn by the user's finger or the like in thespace as an input operation. In addition, for example, the operationunit 10 may be an operation device (controller) operated by a user.Furthermore, the route of the operating device that has moved in thespace may be an input operation during the period from the time when theuser pushes the button of the operation device (controller) to the timewhen the user releases the button. The point at which the button may bepushed and the point at which the button may be released may correspondto the start point and the end point, respectively. In addition, thedirection from the start point to the end point in the space may bedetermined to be not only the vertical and horizontal directions (thedirections on one plane) but also the forward direction and the depthdirection.

In the above-described embodiment, when a slide operation satisfying apredetermined condition (for example, a length exceeding the thresholdvalue and no intentional change of direction) may be performed, oneprocess may be immediately executed. Herein, even though the slideoperation satisfying the predetermined condition may be performed, theprocess may be executed in a case where the preparation may be performedfor the first time and the user may perform the slide operation onceagain in the same direction. For example, it may be assumed that theprocess associated with the direction of the slide operation performedby the user may be a warehouse. At this time, in the first slideoperation, storing in the warehouse may not be executed, and apreparation screen may be displayed. The preparation screen may include,for example, a selected game content and a confirmation message of“Would you save it?” In addition, instead of the slide operation in thesame direction, a long-push operation, a stop of a slide operation for apredetermined time, or the like may be used for the operation to executethe process performed by the user after the first slide operation.

In the above-described embodiment, a process executed on the gamecontent may be associated with the direction of the slide operation gamecontent. Herein, cancellation may be associated with one direction ofthe slide operation. For example, regardless of the type of the gamecontent, cancellation may be associated with the lower leftwarddirection. At this time, for example, in a case where it is noticed thatthere may be excess or deficiency in the selection of the game content,the user can immediately cancel the process by performing the slideoperation in the lower leftward direction. In addition, the display ofthe help information 122 may be associated with one direction of theslide operation. For example, regardless of the type of the gamecontent, the display of the help information 122 may be associated withthe upper leftward direction. At this time, the user can immediatelyconfirm the help information 122 at any time. In addition, as describedabove, in a case where preparation for a process (for example,preparation of a warehouse, preparation for trade, and the like) may beperformed, final execution may be associated with one direction of theslide operation. At this time, it may be possible to collectivelyexecute the processes after preparing the plurality of processes.

In the above-described embodiment, in response to one input operation(slide) by the user, one process may be executed on the selected gamecontent. However, in response to the input operation of the slide atmultiple stages by the user, a plurality of different processescorresponding to the directions of the input operations at therespective stages may be executed. For example, after selecting an item(game content), in response to an input operation of sliding the fingerrightward by a predetermined distance, an icon of “item synthesis” (orthe above-described prediction 123 or the like) may be displayed. Afterthat, in response to an input operation of further sliding the fingerrightward by a predetermined distance, the process of “normal itemsynthesis” may be executed. On the other hand, herein, in response to aninput operation of sliding the finger downward by a predetermineddistance instead of rightward, the process of “special item synthesis”may be executed. In addition, herein, in response to an input operationof sliding the finger leftward by a predetermined distance instead ofrightward or downward, the icon of “item synthesis” may be deleted, sothat the execution of the synthesis process may be canceled.

In the above-described embodiment, when the user long-pushes the gamecontent after selecting the game content, the help information 122 maybe displayed on the display unit 12. Herein, the operation fordisplaying the help information 122 on the display unit 12 may not belimited to long-push. For example, when the user draws a specific figureor the like (for example, a circle, a triangle, or the like), the helpinformation 122 may be displayed on the display unit 12. In addition, ina case where the operation unit 10 may be provided with a pressuresensor and may determine the depth (the input level in the depthdirection viewed from the user) according to the pressure of the user'sinput operation, depth information (pressure value) may be included inthe input operation data. Then, in a case where the depth of the inputoperation may be at a first level, the control unit 13 may treat theinput operation as a tap or slide operation, and in a case where thedepth of the input operation may be at a second level, the helpinformation 122 may be displayed.

In the above-described embodiment, the display area 121 for displayingthe game content may be a portion of the display unit 12. Herein, thewhole of the display unit 12 may be the display area 121. In addition,in this case, the user can execute various processes on the selectedgame content by performing the slide operation in the display area 121.In addition, the number of game content that can be displayed on thedisplay area 121 can be maximized.

In the above-described embodiment, if the end point of the slideoperation may not be specified, one process may not be executed.However, even though the end point of the slide operation may not bespecified, at the time when the length of the route of the slideoperation reaches a predetermined length (for example, the lengthcorresponding to the threshold value Th in FIG. 6A), one process may beexecuted.

In the above-described embodiment, a threshold value which may be apredetermined length may be provided, and execution or cancellation ofthe process may be performed according to whether or not the distancefrom the start point to the end point of the slide operation exceeds thethreshold value (refer to FIG. 6B). Herein, the speed may be usedinstead of the distance. At this time, the threshold value may also beset to be a predetermined speed.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration may beemployed in which a server apparatus communicating with the informationprocessing apparatus 1 may execute a portion or all of the operationsand processes executed by the control unit 13 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1. For example, display control or the like of ascreen displayed on the display unit 12 of the information processingapparatus 1 may be executed by any one of the information processingapparatus 1 and the server apparatus or may be executed by theinformation processing apparatus 1 and the server apparatus cooperatingwith each other.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, web display may beperformed in which a portion of the game screen may be displayed on thedisplay unit 12 of the information processing apparatus 1 on the basisof the data generated by the server apparatus, or native display may beperformed in which a portion of the game screen may be displayed bynative application installed in the information processing apparatus 1.In this manner, the game according to the above-described embodiment maybe a hybrid game in which each of the information processing apparatus 1and the server apparatus may execute a portion of the process.

In addition, in order to function as the information processingapparatus 1 or the server apparatus, for example, a computer, a mobilephone, or the like may be appropriately used. The information processingapparatus 1 or the server apparatus can be realized by storing a programdescribing process contents for realizing each of the above-describedmay function in an accessible storage unit and allowing a CPU to readand execute the program.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An information processing apparatus including adisplay configured to display one or more game contents, a storagememory, a processor, and a user operation interface, said informationprocessing apparatus configured to execute steps of: receiving, on theuser operation interface, a first input operation of a user; based onthe first input operation, identifying and selecting at least one gamecontent in the one or more game contents; following the first inputoperation of the user, receiving, on the user operation interface, asecond input operation of the user, and receiving, based on the secondinput operation of the user, start point coordinate informationassociated with a start point and end point coordinate informationassociated with an end point other than the start point; identifying,based on the second input operation of the user, a difference betweenthe start point coordinate information and the end point coordinateinformation; and selecting a process to be executed on the at least onegame content, and executing the process on the at least one gamecontent, based on a combination of: at least one of: a type of gamecontent of the at least one game content, and a number of game contentsin the at least one game content; and the difference between the startpoint coordinate information and the end point coordinate information.22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, whereinreceiving the second input operation of the user comprises receiving acontinuous slide operation between the start point and the end point.23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, whereinthe information processing apparatus is configured to: in a case wherethe at least one game content consists of one game content, select afirst process to be executed on the one game content; and in a casewhere the at least one game content comprises a plurality of gamecontents, select a second process to be executed on the plurality ofgame contents.
 24. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 23, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to:in the case where the at least one game content consists of the one gamecontent, enable a plurality of processes including the first process andnot including the second process to be selected, and display theplurality of processes; and in the case where the at least one gamecontent comprises the plurality of game contents, enable a secondplurality of processes including the second process and not includingthe first process to be selected, and display the second plurality ofprocesses.
 25. The information processing apparatus according to claim24, wherein at least one process overlaps between the plurality ofprocesses and the second plurality of processes.
 26. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the second processis a synthesis process of combining multiple selected game contents. 27.The information processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein theinformation processing apparatus is configured to, in the case where theat least one game content comprises the plurality of game contents,select the second process to be executed based on the selection order ofthe plurality of game contents.
 28. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 27, wherein the information processing apparatus isconfigured to select the second process to be executed based on one of:a first selected game content in the plurality of game contents; and alast selected game content in the plurality of game contents.
 29. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein theinformation processing apparatus is configured to: in a case where thetype of game contents in the at least one game content is a first type,select a first process to be executed on the at least one game content;and in a case where the number of game contents in the at least one gamecontent is a second type, select a second process to be executed on theat least one game content.
 30. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 29, wherein the information processing apparatus isconfigured to: in the case where the type of game contents in the atleast one game content is the first type, enable a plurality ofprocesses including the first process and not including the secondprocess to be selected, and display the plurality of processes; and in acase where the number of game contents in the at least one game contentis the second type, enable a second plurality of processes including thesecond process and not including the first process to be selected, anddisplay the second plurality of processes.
 31. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein at least one processoverlaps between the plurality of processes and the second plurality ofprocesses; and wherein the at least one process that overlaps betweenthe plurality of processes and the plurality of processes is defined ina same user operation direction.
 32. The information processingapparatus according to claim 21, wherein selecting the process to beexecuted based on the difference between the start point coordinateinformation and the end point coordinate information is based on bothof: a direction from the start point to the end point; and a distancebetween the start point coordinate information and the end pointcoordinate information.
 33. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 32, wherein the information processing apparatus isconfigured to execute steps of: comparing the distance between the startpoint coordinate information and the end point coordinate information toa trigger threshold; and selecting the process to be executed upondetermination that the distance between the start point coordinateinformation and the end point coordinate information exceeds the triggerthreshold.
 34. The information processing apparatus according to claim32, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured toexecute steps of: providing, on the display, a range having a lowerthreshold and an upper threshold; comparing the distance between thestart point coordinate information and the end point coordinateinformation to the lower threshold and to the upper threshold; andselecting the process to be executed upon determination that thedistance between the start point coordinate information and the endpoint coordinate information is between the lower threshold and theupper threshold.
 35. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 34, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured toexecute a second process different from the process upon determinationthe distance between the start point coordinate information and the endpoint coordinate information exceeds the upper threshold.
 36. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 21, whereinselecting the process to be executed based on the difference between thestart point coordinate information and the end point coordinateinformation is based on a direction from the start point to the endpoint; and wherein selecting the process to be executed furthercomprises verifying that the direction is not a direction associatedwith a cancellation operation.
 37. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 36, wherein the information processing apparatus isfurther configured to execute steps of: receiving, on the user operationinterface, a user input operation in the direction associated with thecancellation operation; and upon receipt of the user input operation inthe direction associated with the cancellation operation, cancelingexecution of the process to be executed.
 38. The information processingapparatus according to claim 21, wherein the information processingapparatus is further configured to execute steps of: determining adistance between the start point coordinate information and the endpoint coordinate information; comparing the distance between the startpoint coordinate information and the end point coordinate information toa cancellation threshold; and upon determination that the distanceexceeds a value of the cancellation threshold, canceling execution ofthe process to be executed.
 39. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium comprising program code that, when executed, causes aninformation processing apparatus including a display configured todisplay one or more game contents, a storage memory, a processor, and auser operation interface to execute steps of: receiving, on the useroperation interface, a first input operation of a user; based on thefirst input operation, identifying and selecting at least one gamecontent in the one or more game contents; following the first inputoperation of the user, receiving, on the user operation interface, asecond input operation of the user, and receiving, based on the secondinput operation of the user, start point coordinate informationassociated with a start point and end point coordinate informationassociated with an end point other than the start point; identifying,based on the second input operation of the user, a difference betweenthe start point coordinate information and the end point coordinateinformation; and selecting a process to be executed on the at least onegame content, and executing the process on the at least one gamecontent, based on a combination of: at least one of: a type of gamecontent of the at least one game content, and a number of game contentsin the at least one game content; and the difference between the startpoint coordinate information and the end point coordinate information.40. A control method for a game configured to be executed by aninformation processing apparatus including a display configured todisplay one or more game contents, a storage memory, a processor, and auser operation interface, the control method comprising performing stepsof: receiving, on the user operation interface, a first input operationof a user; based on the first input operation, identifying and selectingat least one game content in the one or more game contents; followingthe first input operation of the user, receiving, on the user operationinterface, a second input operation of the user, and receiving, based onthe second input operation of the user, start point coordinateinformation associated with a start point and end point coordinateinformation associated with an end point other than the start point;identifying, based on the second input operation of the user, adifference between the start point coordinate information and the endpoint coordinate information; and selecting a process to be executed onthe at least one game content, and executing the process on the at leastone game content, based on a combination of: at least one of: a type ofgame content of the at least one game content, and a number of gamecontents in the at least one game content; and the difference betweenthe start point coordinate information and the end point coordinateinformation.